The Perron Family Haunting (The Conjuring House)

For ten years, the Perron family lived in terror in their 18th-century Rhode Island farmhouse, enduring a haunting that included multiple spirits, physical attacks, and an attempted demonic possession. Their story, investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren, became the basis for the 2013 film The Conjuring - though the family’s actual experiences were even more extensive than depicted on screen.

The Family and the House

The Old Arnold Estate

Roger and Carolyn Perron purchased the 14-room farmhouse on Round Top Road in Harrisville, Rhode Island, in January 1971. The house, built in 1736, sat on 200 acres and seemed like the perfect place to raise their five daughters:

• Andrea (12)
• Nancy (10)
• Christine (9)
• Cindy (8)
• April (5)

The History

The property had a dark history spanning eight generations of families. Records revealed:

• Multiple suicides on the property
• Deaths by drowning, murder, and accident
• A woman named Bathsheba Sherman, suspected of killing an infant as a sacrifice

The Haunting Begins

The First Signs

Activity began almost immediately after moving in:

• Brooms disappeared and reappeared
• The smell of rotting flesh pervaded certain rooms
• Beds levitated with children in them
• Doors opened and closed on their own

The Spirits

The Perrons came to identify several spirits:

Bathsheba Sherman The dominant and most malevolent presence:

• Appeared as an old woman with a broken neck
• Focused her hostility on Carolyn
• Allegedly warned Carolyn: “Get out. This is my house.”
• Connected to suspected infanticide in the 1800s

Mrs. John Arnold A relatively benign spirit who hanged herself in the barn. She appeared as a hanging figure in the barn doorway.

The Children Playful spirits that interacted with the Perron girls:

• Played hide and seek
• Appeared at bedsides at night
• One, named “Manny,” was particularly friendly

Johnny Arnold The spirit of a boy who drowned in the nearby river.

The “Thing” A particularly disturbing entity - a distorted, semi-human form that smelled of rotting meat.

Escalation

As years passed, activity intensified:

Physical Attacks

• Carolyn was pulled by the hair
• Family members were pinched, slapped, and scratched
• Andrea was thrown against a wall
• Objects were hurled at family members

Possessions Carolyn began exhibiting disturbing behavior:

• Speaking in unknown languages
• Her voice changing to unfamiliar tones
• Periods of amnesia
• Growing hostility toward her family

The Warrens Investigation

1974 - The Call for Help

After years of failed attempts to get help (priests had refused to assist), the Perrons contacted Ed and Lorraine Warren.

Lorraine Warren, upon entering the house, immediately sensed:

• Multiple spirits, some harmless, some dangerous
• A dominant evil presence (Bathsheba)
• An attachment forming between Bathsheba and Carolyn

The Séance

The Warrens conducted a séance to contact and identify the spirits. During the session:

• Carolyn was reportedly thrown from her chair
• She began speaking in a strange language
• Her body contorted
• She levitated briefly before collapsing

Roger Perron halted the séance, fearing for his wife’s life. He asked the Warrens to leave, concerned their involvement was making things worse.

Aftermath

The Warrens departed but remained in contact with the family. They returned periodically to assist and document the activity.

Life in the House

Daily Terror

For the Perrons, paranormal activity became routine:

• The girls learned to sleep with lights on
• Certain rooms were avoided
• Cold spots appeared randomly
• The smell of death came and went without warning

Carolyn’s Decline

Carolyn bore the brunt of Bathsheba’s attention:

• She became increasingly withdrawn
• Her personality changed
• She experienced frequent physical attacks
• The family feared for her sanity and life

The Children’s Experiences

Each daughter has shared their memories:

Andrea: Wrote a three-volume series about the experiences. She maintains everything depicted in The Conjuring happened, and much was left out.

Nancy, Christine, Cindy, April: Have all confirmed the haunting in interviews, describing entities, attacks, and years of fear.

Departure

1980 - Escape

After a decade of torment, the Perrons sold the house and moved away. The activity stopped for them, confirming the spirits were attached to the location rather than the family.

Roger and Carolyn’s Later Life

• Roger Perron died in 2016
• Carolyn Perron died in 2019
• Both maintained until death that everything they reported was true

The Conjuring

The Film (2013)

James Wan’s film The Conjuring adapted the story, focusing on the Warrens’ involvement and Bathsheba. The film:

• Compressed the timeline
• Dramatized certain events
• Was rated R for “scary images”
• Grossed over $319 million worldwide

Andrea Perron was a consultant on the film and confirmed its general accuracy while noting some dramatic license was taken.

The House Today

The Arnold Estate has changed hands several times:

• Current owners report continued activity
• The property has become a paranormal tourism destination
• Investigators continue to document phenomena

Evidence and Skepticism

Supporting the Perrons

• Five daughters and two parents with consistent accounts over 50 years
• The Warrens’ documentation and involvement
• Historical records confirming the property’s dark history
• Subsequent owners reporting activity

Skeptical Perspectives

• No independent contemporary investigation occurred
• Much evidence is testimonial
• The Warrens’ other cases have faced criticism
• The film’s success raises profit motive concerns

Legacy

The Perron family haunting represents:

• One of the longest-documented domestic hauntings
• A case involving multiple spirits of varying temperaments
• Alleged demonic activity and attempted possession
• The Warrens’ most famous case after Amityville

For the Perrons, it was simply ten years of their lives spent in fear - a nightmare they survived together and have spent decades sharing with the world.

Whether one believes in the supernatural or not, the Perrons’ consistency over 50 years, their willingness to revisit trauma, and the supporting historical records make their story one of the most compelling haunting accounts in American history.

The house on Round Top Road still stands. And according to those who enter it, the spirits do too.